Dedicated to Truth

WHO is speaking to John?

17:1   And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, (filled with the plagues)  and talked with me,

WHAT does He say?

saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 
  17:2   With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

John is to be shown:

1. The judgment of the great whore  (the judgment yet future)

TIME Frame:
-- she sits on many waters (present  tense)  waters symbolic of people and nations over which she has great influence. (vs. 15)
-- kings of earth committed adulter with her (aorist tense -- active ongoing)
-- inhabitants of earth drunk with her wine  (aorist tense -- active ongoing)

So the time frame in which John sees this scene is when the woman has great influence over the nations, and is committing adultery with kings and making people drunk with her wine  (her teachings).

She is about to receive judgment.

  
  17:3   So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 

John is carried "in spirit" (vision)
and sees the woman sitting on the scarlet beast.

Notice she is already sitting on this beast when John sees her.

The beast is full of names of blasphemy, -- a reference to self deification and demand for worship.

In Rev. 13 the heads had the name of blasphemy upon them.
Here the beast wears the name of deity upon his heads, demanding the worship of man. 

This is all about worship that rightly belongs to God, but is demanded by the heads of this beast.
This self-deification has its examples in history as rulers of empires present themselves as gods to their people.

Rev. 17 is even stronger for the whole beast is full of blasphemous names.   This is not speaking of people cursing God, but consists of the derogation of deity by the beasts claim to self-deification.

 
  17:4   And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
  17:5   And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 
  17:6   And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

John, in vision sees both the self glory and the corruption  of this woman, Babylon.

The word abomination in the Old Testament, is particularly associated with idolatry.

Her name upon her forehead is in direct contrast with the name of the saints also written upon their foreheads which is  (Rev. 3:12)  the name of God, and the name of New Jerusalem.   (See also 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:4)
Their master and the city of their citizenship.

A point of interest --
In Rome there was a custom for harlots to wear a headband bearing the name of the owner.

But this harlot is the mother -- or madam of harlots.  She is not alone.  She has given birth to all sorts of abominations that fill the earth.

   
  17:7   And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 

"Carries her" is active present tense. 
Here the angel is speaking to John and places the "beast that carries her" in the present, active tense.

All these clues indicate that John saw this vision in a time future from his own.  This scene of  the woman riding on a beast and fornicating with kings was not yet reality in John's literal lifetime. 

  17:8   The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:

There was a time when the beast was,
then it IS not
but it will return.

 This links us with Rev. 13 where the seven headed beast receives a mortal wound in one of its heads.

This isn't just saying one head was wounded but the beast was still living with it's other heads.  The slaying of the head meant the slaying of the beast.   The beast itself is to be identified by its heads.  It transitions from head to head.   When the head in control of the beast at that point in time, was given the mortal wound, the beast was slain.

But the prophecy predicts a resurrection.  A future manifestation which will be the incarnation of satanic evil.  

The bottomless pit is a metaphor of the home of the destroying angel named Abaddon or Apollyon. (Rev. 9:11) 

 and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 

This resurrection will cause great wonder! 
Looking at Rev. 13 we realize it will be accompanied with great signs and wonders including fire coming down from heaven.  

This resurrection will involve a satanic unity of forces that will exceed anything that has yet occureed.   However, this final manifestation will be short lived; it is destined to go to perdition.   Back into the bottomless pit to be bound for 1000 years before complete annhilation.   
 

17:9   And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 

"Mountain" is a biblical symbol for "religion", or religious focus of attraction.  Biblical support for this is overwhelming.   Backing up the Scriptural consistency of this symbolic meaning for "Mountain" is the classical historic identical use of the term "Mountain" in classical antiquity.  Throughout the Cradle of Civilization, "Mountain" was used  as a symbolic reference to "RELIGION".  The Mediterreanean lands are filled with ancient mountain top temples and altars as the mountain seemed to symbolize for them the connection between humanity and the gods.  

The word "mountain" is also used as a symbol of the nation that held to that religion.

Isaiah 2:2   And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
Jeremiah 51:24   And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. 
  51:25   Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, which destroys the whole earth, saith the LORD, ..I will make thee a burnt mountain. 

 
  17:10   And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 
  17:11   And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Much debate has taken place as to the exact identity of the seven mountains which are seven kings.

Using Biblical principles we realize seven "kings" represent kingdoms.   Daniel 7 has four beasts said to represent four kings when more precisely they represented four kingdoms.  (Dan. 7:17,23)

So the harlot sits upon a succession of empires.   Birthed in historical Babylon, carried forward by Persia, philosophied in Greece, embodied by Rome, Christianized by Papal Rome,  and in the end appearing as carrier of eschatological mystical Babylon.

The most important part in this is to identify the last two heads, for the first five are fallen.

 The death stroke was inflicted in 1798 when the western world emerged from the tyranny of church and state over the souls and bodies of men and women.

The wound heals when church and state again unite to control the souls and bodies of men and women. 

  
  17:12   And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 

Again there are different interpretations concerning the ten horn kings.
Many believe they are a continuation of Daniel 7's ten horns.  (Though three of those were uprooted)
It is very possible that they are the European Union of nations. 

Others believe the world will be divided into ten geographic areas with a "king" set over each in a grand effort to unite the world under "the beast".

The important thing is -- that the powers of the world will give their support to the beast when it fully emerges.   But not for long -- just ONE HOUR.  If that is prophetic time, it would last only 1/2 a month. 

 
  17:13   These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 

 
  17:14   These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.

Remember it was an angel who was given a bowl of plague, that is disclosing this information to John.
When the full resurrection of the beast occurs and the terrible tyranny of the corrupt religious and state under the demonic influence begins and they seek to put to death all who refuse to worship the beast and his image,  then Lamb steps in, the plagues fall, greatly hindering the agenda of the beast.

THose who are called, chosen and faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him where He leads, keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus, will be delivered.

  
  17:15   And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 
  17:16   And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

The world see the very class whom they have mocked and derided, and desired to exterminate, pass unharmed through pestilence, tempest, and earthquake. They see that they have rebelled against the Author of all just and righteous law.  The people see that they have been deluded. They  heap their bitterest condemnation upon the religious leaders who prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. 

People are filled with fury as they realize they have lost and the LAMB has won,  and great violence erupts as they turn against their religious leaders who led them in the war against the LAMB.

 
  17:17   For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 
  17:18   And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. 

The eighth head?

When we look at the beast in Rev. 17 we see seven heads. 
It has only seven heads. 

Rev. 17:3 "I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

There is no eighth HEAD, but there is the NUMBER eight.

Rev. 17:11           And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

The number eight has a remarkable meaning in this prophecy which is lost if we try to make another "mountain" or "king" out of it.   The "eighth" is part of the seven, and represents the beast itself.

Revelation 12 gave us the key understanding that this is the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan.  To deceive the world satan attempts to counterfeit the things of Christ.

Studies into the number eight reveals it signifies the new earth, the recreated earth. 

 
The feast of tabernacles in the typical festivals foreshadowed the gathering of all the saved in the New Jerusalem after the world's harvest has been reaped.  It is the only feast which was kept EIGHT days.  The first and the eighth days were designated as Sabbaths.  (Lev. 23:39)  These Sabbaths came on different days every year just like your birthday comes on different day every year.  The counterfeit system uses this argument in support of the counterfeit Sunday (Sabbath).

This earth's history has six millenniums to show the true nature of sin.
The seventh millennium will be spent in heaven as the earth experiences it's "Sabbath rest".
The eighth millennium will see the recreation and renewal of this earth as the eternal kingdom of the redeemed.

The use of the number 7 through Revelation all depict "completion" and point forward to the eighth – the restoration of all things.  It points us to Jesus, the resurrected Savior, who recreates not just the earth, but also our lives and characters when surrendered to Him.   Interestingly Rev. 1 has an eight fold description of Christ.

So now this prophecy in Rev. 17 focuses on the 7^th or last head of this beast.   The revived beast, typifying the union of religion and state,  commands all to worship according to the authorized manner.  The leader in this will be the papacy, but it will also include a whole confederacy of powers.

"The world is filled with storm and war and variance. Yet under one head--the papal power--the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate.[satan]--7T 182

All the world will wonder after this resurrected beast,
except those "whose names are written in the book of Life". 
The BOOK OF LIFE is an important element in understanding this prophecy!
What is it that is promised those whose names are written in the Book of Life?
It's the glorious hope of being citizens in Christ's everlasting kingdom!!!!! 

Did you know that the "Book of Life" is mentioned eight times.

Rev. 3:5                He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him  (the beast), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb
Rev. 17:8  they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life
Rev. 20:12 another book was opened, which is the book of life
Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev. 21:27 [Those who enter New Jerusalem are] they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Rev. 22:19 [Those who add or subtract from this prophecy] God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city.
Phil 4:10 [Those who labour for the gospel have their] names in the book of life.

This beast power offers a counterfeit "book of life" which in actuality is the book of death.  The beast, simulates the death and resurrection of Christ and does itself die and resurrect.  As Christ triumphed over His enemies and arose in glorious power to use that power to save His people, so this beast will emerge from its death to a position of greater power then it ever had before, world wide power, and will portray itself as the savior of the people, but in actuality brings deception and death.

This resurrection is not just the return of the system that was, even  though the papacy will again be at the head, this resurrection comes with glorious power unprecedented in history.   Revelation is written on the principle of enlargement of the past as it reaches its climax.    Rev. 17 predicts a counterfeit unity of powers which arises and will indicate that the millennium of peace and goodness is to begin.

"Satan determines to unite them in one body, and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of Spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world, and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium."  {GC88 588.3}

The eighth superimposes itself on the seventh head, as the world unites under the papacy to bring peace and prosperity to the globe by lining up everyone under the spiritual guardianship of the papacy.

But the dragon is also present in this attempt to bring in a theocracy under the seventh head, to make it an eighth -- symbolic of Christ's kingdom restored (a counterfeit).   The spiritualistic influence will be absolutely overwhelming!  While the papacy leads as the human leader, the dragon will bring it to its climax!   The "Christ" will appear, but it won't be the Creator, our Savior Jesus Christ, it will be the dragon pretending with awesome glory to be Christ.

Babylon is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  Rev. 18:2.   And all the kings of the earth will lend their power to enforce this counterfeit millennium.

Remember, this battle is between Christ and His angels, and satan and his angels.  The forces will align themselves under one banner or the other.